Ridiculous, The Price Regulations

At the first read, I thought it was great news for cinema goers! The Government of Tamil Nadu had announced that cinema theaters in the State cannot charge beyond a certain price. So, the prices of a premium ticket could not exceed Rs. 50 and the minimum had to be Rs. 10. The prices in theaters beyond the city limits were designed to be so low that one would not mind traveling distances to watch flicks.

Well, this was another pro-poor people step by the DMK Government.

Isn't it the best gift that a movie-crazy Tamilians could get, close to Pongal?

Suddenly, my practical soul woke up. I prefer going to only a couple of theaters in town. This would limit my choices to Satyam and Mayajaal. Whenever I would want to do a full family outing that means with my pets, I preferred Prarthana Drive Inn. Now prices at Satyam and Mayajaal are definitely on the higher side. But so is the quality of experience. There is ample parking, good AC, ease of booking, the interiors of the theater, the promotions they run, well maintained utilities, snack bars, seats, audio, screens...the list doesn't end.

Satyam is a case study by itself. A couple of years back, all theaters in Chennai were more similar to each other. One could buy tickets only in black. The theaters by themselves would be very, very, very dirty. Satyam has really changed the rules of the game.

Back to price regulation. I strongly believe that no Government has a role to play in price regulations. And that too regulating the price in theaters is ridiculous and absolute nonsense. In a free economy, firms compete and excel based on understanding of its customers, offering services and charging accordingly. The consumer has the final say on whether he wants to accept products or services at a desired price. In such a case, there is enough opportunity for all players. So, is the choice for customers.

It is bewildering as to why the Government is keen on regulating the price?

Some of news report suggest that the prices at theaters have sky rocketed and have become unacceptable or inaccessible for cinema-goers. Then another group claimed that the move will make piracy unattractive. That could be true!

But why cinema tickets? Is there anything better that it can do? Maybe like, give DVD players, mobile phones, cable connections and many more things free of cost to poor people.

As if regulating petrol prices is not enough.

A little birdie informed me that the kith-and-kin of someone very close the Power in TN has forayed into Film Production and Distribution. So, the person wanted the distribution rights of flicks of top actors due to released shortly. It was denied to them. And thus, to teach a lesson to the people who denied them the business, the Government brought down the prices at cinema theaters.

Not sure if that is true.

Anyways, so what happens if the prices are reduced?

It's a chain reaction. If the prices are brought down, the profits of cinema theater owners goes down. Since their profits go down, they bargain with distributors. Since it takes longer to make profit from a flick now, the distributors take longer to make profits. So, where do the producers go? To the actors. Why? Because, the cost of stars is the biggest component of film making.

Got it?

What a vicious cycle? Scary isn't it? Wonder if that happens to you.

Pic source: www.ew.com

Identity

Soon after my schooling in 1994, I did Hotel Management from IHM, Chennai. As part of the course, students get opportunity to work in star hotels and get a feel of the industry. What I observed was that in 5 star hotels autos were not being allowed to go till the portico. Guests who traveled by autos had to get down at the gate and walk into the hotel.

I quit the industry soon after I joined. No, it was not because they did not allow autos inside hotels. I hated the life as an employee in a hotel.

After many years, I was recently standing at Taj Coromandel’s porch. And to my amazement, there came an auto and two foreign tourists got down and walked in. The security which is quite tight at Coromandel allowed the auto to go. It was quite shocking, actually. I quizzed the Durban on how come an auto was allowed. He told me then that many foreign guests had requested hotel management to allow auto inside the hotel. Why? Autos to them were true Indian experience, amongst many other things.

Isn’t it quite funny? As Chennaites (and am sure it’s true for other metros, too), we abhor autos. And here are these foreign visitors who want to experience it.

And actually, autos are truly Indian. They are our identity.

I have been thinking about it for sometime. I have come to believe that the recent attempts by some Western Governments to dissuade Muslim women from wearing bukhas and head scarves to school/class is an indicator of intolerance. It is an attempt to erase a strong, historical identity.

Similarly, very recently, British Airways got into an unnecessary skirmish with the church in England over its decision to not allow Nadia Eweida, an employee wear a tiny cross while on work.

Think about it, can you ask a Brahmin to remove his cross belt or a Sardar to shave.

Why is it that the tolerance levels today are so low?

Its not just identity, even behaviors we are not familiar with is matter of ridicule.

A couple of years back, I had gone to Delhi as part of a training program. Couple of colleagues from other metros too had joined in.

After our work, when we came back to hotel room, I switched on TV to watch Sun TV. A colleague from Mumbai commented in a not so subtle derogatory manner about Tamilians and their affinity to Sun TV. Hey come on, that’s what I like! Similarly, many North Indians ridicule that South Indians prefer plumpy heroines. First of all, it is not true; secondly, even if it is so, what’s wrong with that.

I guess if each one of us is able to increase tolerance levels and appreciate different cultures and their identity, we will have a better society to live in. I guess that is a difficult proposition.

While, there are many ways to achieve that, I feel that educational institutes should not be run by religious institutions. Nor should an institute have religious leanings.

Anyway, I am sure our leaders are thinking about it. Or are they?

One has fallen back to the temple issue while the other is busy segregating.

Picture source: http://www.rajinifans.com/